New data on Greenland halibut
A total of 320 Greenland halibuts, caught along the coast of Eastern Finmark, Lofoten and Troms, have been analysed for mercury. Although the results from 23 individual fish showed a mercury content above EU’s maximum limit of 0,5 mg/kg wet weight, the different lots consisting of 40 fish each from 8 boats showed an average mercury content below EU’s maximum limit.
These determinations of mercury in Greenland halibut were
conducted on the basis of findings in Febuary 2006, where 7 out of
65 fish analysed by NIFES had a mercury content that exceeded the
EU’s maximum limit. Read more
Before this years fishing season on Greenland halibut off the coast
of Norway a working group was established in order to examine
mercury in Greenland halibut further. The working group consisted
of representatives from NIFES, Institute of Marine Research (IMR),
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Norwegian Seafood Federation,
Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) and Norwegian Raw Fish
Organisation was established. The data had to be ready before the
opening of fishing season on the 6th of June. Eight boats were
sampling fish between the 10th and the 17th of Mai 2006. Each of
the vessels sent 40 fish, giving a total of 320 fish,to IMR and
NIFES in Bergen. At NIFES, the fillets were analysed for mercury.
Directive 2006/6/EF from EU states that when results from
determinations of for example mercury is compared to the EU maximum
limit the methods’ estimated uncertainty should be accounted
for. The method used by NIFES has an estimated uncertainty of 20 %
which should be subtracted from the analysed value when the data
are compared to EU’s maximum limit of 0.5 mg/kg wet weight
for mercury.
When the method’s uncertainty was considered, the results
showed that none of the vessel’s batches had an average that
exceeded 0.5 mg/kg wet weight. At the same time 23 individual fish
had a mercury content that exceeded the EU’s maximum limit of
0.5 mg/ kg wet weight. Except for two fish, all the fish with a
mercury content exceeding EU’s maximum limit weighed more
than 3 kg, but not all the fish above 3 kg exceeded EU’s
maximum limit with respect to mercury.
Read the report here (only available in Norwegian)
See also the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's web pages:
www.mattilsynet.no
Contact person:
Kåre Julshamn
Head of Documentation and Surveillance
Mobile: 99 48 77 01
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